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What Is ACTA and Why Should It Bother Online Gamblers in New Zealand?

ACTA or the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was been trending at the time when it was made public.

Many issues had risen due to how it can supposedly affect the industries running on the internet. Of course, the online gambling sector is one of them.

If you haven’t heard of it, make sure to read through to the end because its effects will surprise any online gambler.

What is ACTA?

ACTA is an international agreement, evident from the complete name. it aims to create standards from all countries that enforce intellectual property rights.

It deals with different types of counterfeit goods. This may also include the products and services in medicine organizations or other sectors.

However, the agreement is actually covering a much broader subject, which includes the online distribution of intellectual properties. Thus, it’s suspected that it may disrupt the normal cycle of distribution of content on the internet.

Is the negotiation open for the public?

The negotiations had always been made in secret, and they weren’t even discussed with the EU Parliament, which caused a huge uproar. Regardless, the public wasn’t supposed to be part of the talks about the ACTA. But due to the interference of the EU Parliament, it became open for an inspection from the public and other organizations.

Is it a trade agreement?

Due to the uncooperativeness of the European Commission with the EU Parliament, they came up with the trade agreement that counterfeiting and piracy are to be punished with criminal penalties.

However, as previously noted, the EU Parliament fixed this by making the discussion open for scrutiny, which made it as it is now and you may even call it a “mixed agreement” as a result.

What are the penalties for violating the trade agreement?

There are many ACTA implications mentioned in the trade agreement, but the offender, which may even include innocent individuals, will have to pay large fines or time in prison.

This seemed to be a bit too much and so it’s perhaps one of the reasons why it got voted against almost unanimously by the EU Parliament.

While copyright holders are the main group that supports the trade agreement, the majority of internet users and organizations vote and protest against the ACTA and we suggest you go through that, too, considering the many downsides of the agreement.

EU Parliament Against ACTA on Internet Disconnection for Copyright Infringement

The Europe Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement discussion had long been too far from being transparent. Talks about the implementation and negotiation terms of ACTA had been hidden to the members of the Europe Parliament and so they have banded together to address this lack of openness.

In addition to voting that talks about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, the EU Parliament also agreed on voting against the internet disconnection proposed by the EU ACT for the penalty of copyright infringement.

EU Parliamentarians’ Displeasure of Lack of Transparency

This move by the EU Parliament only proves how dissatisfied the members are due to the lack of transparency of the members discussing the implementation of the frowned-upon ACTA.

Since the members of the EU Parliament proved that there has been no approval whatsoever regarding the ACTA, it’s only natural that the EU Parliament be involved in any and all talks about the ACTA.

Internet Disconnection and Copyright Infringement

This started when they got hold of information showing that the EU ACTA discussed the implementation of “internet disconnection for copyright infringers”.

Since then, the EU Parliament had been very clear about ACTA talks that there should be no personal rights to be trampled upon in the implementation of said ACTA. If not, it’s only right to vote against the ACTA, which we all know have already been done for a long time now.

ACTA Negotiations Open to Inspections

The EU Parliamentarians also decided that if ACTA is to be implemented, there should be no civil rights to be breached, in addition to the openness of ACTA negotiations to scrutiny. Thus, the succeeding rounds of ACTA negotiations after that decision became more transparent and many issues concerning ACTA arose and got addressed accordingly.

While this decision by the EU Parliament didn’t mean for the ACTA to be ignored and get fought against by the public, it’s aim is to make the discussion of the European Commission about ACTA be more open.

They also mentioned that instead of dropping the hammer of justice to copyright infringers, it should be focused on how to combat the said issue. EU Parliamentarians specifically stated that federal liberties shouldn’t be changed.

Regardless of whether the European Commission agree to this, the EU Parliament has the right to vote against the implementation of the ACTA. As of now, there have been no further discussions about this law, but we can’t be sure if the idea becomes open again to the European Commission.

The Agreement in the ACTA That Will Change the Online Gambling Industry

It’s known that the European Parliament voted against the ACTA and it’s only natural considering the countless downsides there is to implement it in the country.

Not only does it change the way several industries run, but it also disrupts the peace on the internet, which we know is the fastest-growing industry around the world.

This is precisely why we at Publicacta proposes ideas and information that may help citizens of New Zealand, to protest against the dangerous Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

To give you a better understanding of how ACTA can change many industries, including the online gambling sector, take a look at the negotiation terms that prove to be worrisome.

It was not done democratically

Before we get into the actual negotiation terms, it’s important that you understand the process in which this idea was proposed to the members of the European Parliament.

Even with much effort into tracing back to the origins of the proposal, it was not found who or what organization started this idea. This is thus, not done in a democratic manner.

It refers to counterfeiting as if it’s piracy

Counterfeit is used to describe fake goods, while piracy refers to the act of reproducing products or services without the permission of the owner.

Regardless, one will have a punishment, while another will have different consequences. The negotiations from the implementation of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement makes it look as though counterfeiting is the same as piracy.

It can easily prosecute innocent bystanders

There are many internet users that are making their living online. They are capable of doing so by making use of the properties of others.

While it may sound dirty, it’s not exactly a crime since the original owner may have been aware that their property can be used freely.

However, in the case of ACTA, that doesn’t matter and anyone who uses the property of anyone (this is especially true for YouTubers), can be prosecuted.

It will take away the ability of groups to make their own policies

As we already know, platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and more allow for fair use and users can make use of the works of others. With ACTA, the terms clearly state that the whole nation will go along with their own rules.

There are many downsides of ACTA. Their negotiation terms will clearly disrupt the peace on the internet, both for the uses and commercial groups.